Wood Floor Got Wet And Buckled

For example if a toilet overflows and the water reaches the hardwood hallway the hardwood planks swell with moisture.

Wood floor got wet and buckled.

Buckling occurs when the wood flooring actually pulls up from the subfloor lifting several inches in one or more places. Buckling can occur for a number of reasons. Buckling also called cupping or crowning is the most extreme case of too much moisture. Whether there is too much weight on the wood flooring or exposure to moisture understanding why buckling occurs is the first step to fixing it.

If spilled water sits atop the flooring for too long or if moisture seeps into the wood from the subfloor. Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor. Sometimes if you let it dry out. How to fix a buckled hardwood floor.

So your flooring may show signs of staining from small spills the wet floor may also begin to buckle and cup when large amounts of water are absorbed as the planks swell. A flooded hardwood floor can have up to 40 moisture content and can retain well above the normal amount of moisture for weeks if left to dry on it s own. Degree of water. Fortunately this is not a common occurrence.

Nails may begin to lift glue may release causing separation between floor pieces and tongue and groove floors often cup or buckle when moisture has been absorbed. Because the wood needs to accommodate this excess moisture it moves upward and the expansion causes it to buckle. Moisture is the downfall of many hardwood floors. Hardwood floors will buckle if they are subjected to excess water.

Floor buckling happens most often after a floor has been flooded for an extended period of time. M ajor storms like sandy can cause extensive water damage to hardwood floors but panicked homeowners should not rush to replace what appears to be beyond repair.